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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS: NOVEMBER 20, 2018

Daily Current Affairs ( November 20, 2018) like many other sections is inevitable and this also helps to score in the Banking awareness , Static GK and Financial Awareness sections. Remember, Banking Awareness and Static Awareness Questions are asked from the General Awareness section. This will also help you to ride your preparations for the forthcoming exams.

NATIONAL

Government launches upgraded version of AirSewa digital platform

The government has launched an upgraded version of AirSewa digital platform. Chatbots will now help air travellers in addressing their grievances.

Besides, passengers can have access to real-time flight status and schedule for both domestic and international flights, according to the Civil Aviation Ministry.

AirSewa 2.0, the upgraded version of the web portal and mobile app, provides chatbot support for faster resolution and personalised traveller experience.

49th International Film Festival of India begins in Goa

The 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will begin at Panaji in Goa. The opening ceremony will be held at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium in Bambolim.

Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore and film star Akshay Kumar will be among host of celebrities present on the occasion.

The 9-day event will showcase 212 films from 68 countries. While The Aspern Papers is the opening film, Sealed Lips will be the closing movie.

Veteran Israeli filmmaker Dan Wolman will be given the Lifetime Achievement Award.

India’s First Elephant Hospital Opens in Mathura

India’s first specialized hospital for elephants was opened by Agra Divisional Commissioner Anil Kumar at Farah block’s Churmura village, Mathura.

The hospital, on the banks of the Yamuna River, is close to an elephant conservation and care centre run by Wildlife SOS that is home to 22 elephants.

The Wildlife SOS established the first elephant conservation and care centre in 2010 and is currently looking after 20 elephants requiring specialised treatment.

INTERNATIONAL

2-Day APEC Summit 2018 held in Papua New Guinea

APEC Papua New Guinea 2018 is the year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Papua New Guinea. It will be held in Port Moresby.

It was the first time Papua New Guinea is hosting the APEC meetings. Australia provided a quarter to a third of the cost to host the meetings and also helped with logistics and security (G4S).

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is an inter-governmental forum for 21 Pacific Rim member economies that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

Papua New Guinea

Capital: Port Moresby

Currency: Papua New Guinean kina

WHO World Malaria Report 2018

The World malaria report, published annually, provides a comprehensive update on global and regional malaria data and trends.

Data from 2015–2017 highlight that no significant progress in reducing global malaria cases was made in this period. There were an estimated 219 million cases and 435 000 related deaths in 2017.

The World malaria report 2018 draws on data from 91 countries and areas with ongoing malaria transmission. The information is supplemented by data from national household surveys and databases held by other organizations.

BANKING AND ECONOMY

RBI to set up expert panel to look into issues on capital surplus

The RBI board has decided to set up a high-powered committee to examine issues related to surplus capital of Rs 9.69 lakh crore with the central bank and advised it to consider a scheme for restructuring stressed assets in the MSME sector.

It was also decided that the Board for Financial Supervision (BFS) of the RBI would examine the issues concerning the banks that are under the Prompt Corrective Action framework.

APPOINTMENTS

Jalaj Srivastava Appointed New IWAI Chairman

Jalaj Srivastava, a 1984 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been appointed the chairman of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).

The IWAI comes under the Union Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, currently headed by Nitin Gadkari.

Srivastava, presently working as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, is expected to take charge of his new responsibility.

Earlier he had also served as chairman of New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) and Principal Secretary, Department of VAT, Delhi government. Srivastava is also the writer of a crime thriller novel titled ‘The Perfect Suicide.

IWAI

Headquarters: Noida

AWARDS AND HONOURS

Golfer Shubhankar becomes first Indian to win European Tour Rookie of the Year award

Young golfer Shubhankar Sharma capped a dream season on the European Tour by becoming the first Indian to win the tour’s ‘Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year’ award Nov.19.

Sharma achieved the feat soon after finishing tied 41st at the season-ending World Tour Championship event in Dubai.

The Chandigarh-based golfer thus joined previous Rookies of the Year, Spaniard Jon Rahm and Korean Jeunghun Wang, as well as former World No.1 Luke Donald of England, as the only players in the last 20 years to win twice in their first 20 events.

It was the 8th international badminton titles for the Indonesian pair in the tournaments sanctioned by Badminton World Federation (BWF).

Before the Hong Kong event, Markus and Kevin won BWF international tournaments of Indonesian Masters, India Open, All England, Indonesia Open, Asian Games, Japan Open and China Open.

IMPORTANT DAYS

Qaumi Ekta Week begins to promote communal harmony

Qaumi Ekta Week will be observed across the country from November 19-25 to foster and reinforce the spirit of communal harmony and national integration.

The observation of the week will help to highlight the inherent strength and resilience of the nation to withstand actual and potential threats to the eclectic and secular fabric of the country.

The occasion also provides an opportunity to reaffirm age-old traditions and faith in the values of tolerance, co-existence and brotherhood in a multi-cultural and multi-religious society.

As part of the week-long programmes, November 19 will be observed as National Integration Day. The last day of the Qaumi Ekta Week will be observed as Conservation Day.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (WDR) is commemorated on the third Sunday of November each year – to remember the many millions killed and injured on the world’s roads, together with their families, friends and many others who are also affected.